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“This is the family tree of the human race: When God created the human race, he made it godlike, with a nature akin to God. He created both male and female and blessed them, the whole human race.”

Genesis 5:1-3 (The Message)

We all spring from the same family tree. We were created in the image of God; the entire human race. We were created unique and purposeful, and to be in relationship, with one another and God.

While sin has marred the image of God within us and within our family (humanity), we have not been cast off and forgotten. God sent His very son, Jesus, to redeem us and reconcile us to the Father. Our family heritage is one of great sacrifice and greater love and grace.

This is how we should live out our love for each other, as the family God created. We are all broken and seeking wholeness and healing. We seek to be reconciled to one another, yet we do not treat everyone as family. God calls us to love as He loves; unconditionally and abundantly. We are to love God with all we have and are, and love our neighbors, our family, as ourselves.

So take a look around….. Is there someone needing the love of family? Do you? Let God lead you and love through you. We are all looking for family to love and accept us, as we are, good enough.

This simple lesson of love was summed up beautifully in the strangest place for me this morning. Micah was watching Disney’s, Lilo and Stitch. The movie centers on a small, broken family of two sisters who have lost their parents. The elder sister is left to pick up the pieces and care for herself and her little sister, Lilo. Lilo manages to adopt a “pet” from the local shelter, not realizing, of course, that she has adopted an alien, Stitch. Stitch is an alien experiement and is deemed unacceptable and sentenced to exile. He manages to escape and lands on the Hawaiian island, and ultimately with Lilo. He is literally an alien, seeking to find who he is and where he belongs. Lilo is longing for a friend and to keep ahold of family. The movie culminates with all parties, alien and human, coming together and learning an invaluable lesson on the shore. In the clip, it is Stitch’s words that resonate:

The family may be broken and small, but it is still good. Why? Because there is love and acceptance, and an abundance of grace.

Just as we are to live and love with our neighbors, our family. The tagline of the movie is, “There’s one in every family,” meant to demonstrate Stitch’s misplacement and that “person” we’d rather avoid than love. We’ve all been that person at one point or another. Who reached out to you then?

Look around and you will see many of “those people” who need the love and grace of family. Small, broken, or large, the love of family is what we are asked to give to each other. God sees this, and calls it good.

My name is Heather and I am a beloved child of God. I'm 30, a pastor's wife, mom, and aspiring novelist, and journeying to find out the rest. My blog is a glimpse into this journey and the insight I gain along the way; some laughter to ease the bumps and bruises, grace to cover my many mistakes, and love to offer hope and healing from a heart that has been broken and restored again and again.